Amaechi has no electoral value, only Tinubu can win Rivers in 2027 — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, as a political liability with no electoral value in Rivers State or the South-South region.

Wike also declared that President Bola Tinubu remains the only presidential candidate capable of winning Rivers State in the 2027 general election.

Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, the former Rivers State governor said political analysts should not expect any presidential candidate other than Tinubu to secure victory in the state.

“If anybody is counting Rivers, go now and cancel it. The only person that can count Rivers is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am not saying this for the sake of talking; I am speaking as a political realist because I know my people,” Wike said.

He questioned Amaechi’s emergence as the ADC vice presidential candidate, suggesting that financial considerations, rather than electoral strength, may have influenced the decision.

“I am sure the only reason Amaechi was chosen as running mate may be financial because he does not have the capacity to deliver votes,” he stated.

Wike argued that Amaechi had consistently failed to deliver Rivers State in previous presidential elections despite occupying strategic political positions.

“He has never delivered a presidential election since 2011 when I was Director of Campaign. He was Director-General of Buhari’s campaign in 2015 while serving as governor, yet Buhari did not get 25 per cent of the votes. He was again Buhari’s campaign DG in 2019 as a super minister, but the result was the same. He supported Atiku in 2023, and he still could not secure even 15 per cent,” Wike said.

The FCT minister also accused Amaechi of political inconsistency, noting that he had earlier criticised the ADC presidential primary as irregular and corrupt before accepting the party’s vice presidential ticket.

“Only a month ago, he described the ADC primary as manual, irregular and corrupt. How can someone condemn an election process and then turn around to benefit from that same process? He is now benefiting from what he once called corruption and irregularities,” he said.

Wike further argued that Amaechi’s role in the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 would count against him politically in the South-South region.

“A South-South man sought a second term, and Amaechi proudly worked against him. Does he think the people of the South-South have forgotten? How does he expect them to support his ambition to become Vice President?” he asked.

Highlighting what he described as improved federal attention to Rivers State under the Tinubu administration, Wike cited projects such as the Bonny Road as evidence that the state was receiving unprecedented support from the Federal Government.

“Since 1999, despite claims by some former leaders that they were close to the President, Rivers State has never enjoyed the level of attention it is receiving today,” he said.

The former governor also disclosed that a broad political coalition comprising members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), Action Alliance (AA) and other political groups had agreed to work together in Rivers State while supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid.

According to him, candidates for the National Assembly and the Rivers State House of Assembly would emerge as coalition candidates rather than representatives of individual political parties.

“Today, we have PDP, APC, Labour Party, AA and others working together. Whoever emerges should be seen as the coalition’s candidate, not as APC or PDP. The movement is spreading like wildfire across Rivers State,” Wike said.

He insisted that the alliance was not aimed at promoting any political party but at ensuring continued development in Rivers State.

“If Rivers State remains relevant because projects are coming and people are benefiting, then I am satisfied. This is not about personal ambition but about the interest of the state,” he added.

Wike also recalled the 2019 governorship election, claiming Rivers State witnessed an unprecedented deployment of federal security forces.

“I know what federal might means. Military personnel were deployed in large numbers as though Rivers State was at war. But by the grace of God, we survived and fought back,” he said.